Putin to hold 12 meetings at the G20 – will President Trump be one of them?

During the G20 summit, which will be held on July 7-8 in Hamburg, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, will hold talks with the leaders of 12 countries and international organizations. According to the assistant to the president for international affairs, Yuri Ushakov, the Russian and American sides will make every effort to find a window for the meeting between Russian and US leaders. In addition, on the second day of the summit, is a separate working breakfast with French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Yuri Ushakov said that the request from the US administration on the organization of the meeting between the two leaders came later than the others. Both delegations will be looking for free time in their busy schedules.

– “We understand that everything is difficult, that relations with Russia have become hostage to domestic political fights in the United States. So what? For us it is also difficult, but we want to work and will work together with the United States “– said the assistant to the head of state.

Yuri Ushakov believes that the two presidents will discuss the fight against international terrorism, as well as arms control and the strengthening of strategic stability, as the Russian Federation and the United States have a responsibility being the largest nuclear powers. Of particular importance is the coordination of efforts in the context of the situation in Syria.

The meeting of the leaders is one of the most anticipated events of the G20, but experts say that this expectation is premature in the immediate changes in the relationship between the two countries.

– “Our contradictions are too deep to be decided in a meeting in Hamburg. I think it will be just a protocol meeting. The fact that [Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump] shake hands, will be perceived as a sensation,” – the expert states.

The Summit

The first event in the work of Vladimir Putin is scheduled for the morning of July 7th. He will meet with heads of state, members of the BRICS group, which brings together Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. It is known that, due to internal problems, the event will not be attended by the leader of Brazil, Michel Temer – the country will be represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Over the two days, Vladimir Putin, in addition to participating in the activities of the summit, will hold talks with the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Turkey and France, a brief meeting with Mexican leaders, South Africa and the prime minister of Australia, as well as – with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Among others will be the Head of the European Commission, to discuss the delivery of the “Turkish Stream”.

On the morning of July 8, Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron will hold a joint breakfast, during which the parties will focus on the discussion of the Ukrainian crisis.

Inessa Sinchougova is an Editor and Journalist at Fort Russ News, as well as a research fellow and translator of the Belgrade based think-tank, the Center for Syncretic Studies. She was educated at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), in the field of Political Science and was previously employed in Marketing and Communications Strategy for a Multi-National Corporation. She runs a popular YouTube channel for translations of key Russian Foreign Policy figures and appears regularly on other alternative media channels. If you like her work, you can support her Patreon here.